Thomas Jordan Jarvis

Thomas Jordan Jarvis ( born January 18, 1836 in Jarvisburg, Currituck County, North Carolina, † June 17, 1915 in Greenville, North Carolina ) was an American politician and the 44th Governor of North Carolina. He also represented this state in the U.S. Senate.

Early years and political rise

Thomas Jarvis attended Randolph -Macon to 1861 the College in Virginia. During the Civil War he fought as a Captain in the Army of the Confederacy. He was severely wounded in 1864 and remained crippled for the rest of his life on his right arm. After the war he studied law, after which he was admitted to the bar in 1867. At the same time he began his political career. In 1865 he was among the delegates at a conference on the revision of the Constitution of North Carolina. Between 1868 and 1872 he was Democrat member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina. Since 1870 he was president of the House ( Speaker). From 1876 he served as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

Governor, Ambassador and Senator

Following the resignation of Governor Zebulon Baird Vance in February 1879, he became its successor. A year later he was appointed in this position and are selected for full four years as governor. In his ending on January 21, 1885 tenure, he advocated for improvements in education. He also promoted the industry. He tried to entice both new businesses and new citizens to North Carolina. With regard to the racial politics he sat on tolerance.

After the expiration of his term of office he was appointed by President Grover Cleveland to the U.S. ambassador in Brazil. This post he held from 1885 to 1889. In 1892 he became chairman of the Democratic Party in North Carolina. When former Governor Vance, who had meanwhile North Carolina represented in the U.S. Senate, died in that office, followed again by Thomas Jarvis. From 1894 to 1895 he remained in Congress. He had his last major political appearance in 1896 when he represented North Carolina at the Democratic National Convention, was nominated on the William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate. Then Jarvis worked as a lawyer. He died in June 1915. Jarvis Thomas was married to Mary Woodson.